BOSTON – It’s difficult to picture the 2010-11 Bruins’ season and their run to the Stanley Cup Final without Nathan Horton.

With 26 goals in the regular season and eight more in the playoffs – including three of the most dramatic game-winning goals in franchise history – Horton has lived up to the hype surrounding his trade to Boston from around this time last year and written his own chapter in Bruins lore.

If you were to replay the Bruins’ season without the 26-year-old forward, it might look something like the year his former team the Florida Panthers went through en route to another playoff-less spring.

Sure, Tim Thomas might’ve still stolen a bunch of games and a defense corps led by Zdeno Chara could’ve kept the opponents off the scoreboard, but the Bruins’ offense probably wouldn’t have ranked much higher than the 27th Horton’s former mates ranked during the regular season. Earning a playoff spot would’ve been a dogfight.

That’s how important Horton has been and how big a hole in the Bruins’ lineup he leaves for the rest of the Stanley Cup Final against Vancouver now that he’s out with a severe concussion suffered in Game 3.

The only realistic way for the Bruins to replace Horton’s offensive production and his physical presence is with a committee of players. But there are a couple guys capable of increasing their contribution to the Bruins’ cause enough to reduce the number of members that committee needs.

Most notably, Milan Lucic, Horton’s linemate who has followed up a 30-goal regular season with just four goals in 21 playoff games, could take on more of the burden. He seems to know this is an opportunity for him to prove he’s a legit, scoring power forward.

“It was nice having him on the right side there on our line. He’s made a big impact for myself as far as becoming good friends and linemates,” said Lucic today on the off day before tomorrow’s Game 4. “I thought he was a big reason why I’ve been able to take my game to a new level. Now without him, I’m definitely going to have to step up and do more.”

Peverley/By S. Bradley

How much room Lucic will have to operate could depend on which winger Bruins head coach Claude Julien puts on the right side of Lucic and center David Krejci. Based on Monday night’s game, there appears to be two leading candidates: Michael Ryder and Rich Peverley. In Ryder, the Bruins have a former two-time 30-goal scorer who hasn’t lived up to expectations in three season in black and gold. And in Peverley they have a player who followed up his 22-goal 2009-10 season with 18 this year but has scored just twice in the postseason.

Ryder has more experience skating alongside Krejci than Peverley.

“I played with Krejci before and with Lucic on and off at times,” said Ryder. “Yeah, I feel comfortable there. I’m not sure what Claude has planned. But if I get put in that position, I’ll have to step it up and make sure I help those guys out as much as I can.

“I’m not Nathan Horton, but I can try to do what I can out there.”

There’s no telling if either guy will be able to find the hot hand. Like many players, including Peverley and Ryder, on the Bruins’ roster, the postseason can be a fresh start. Although both players thrived – while on a line with Chris Kelly – during the Bruins first-round triumph over Montreal, they’ve cooled off considerably since.

But both Peverley and Ryder have first-line-caliber talent. The past production doesn’t lie. Neither player is out of his prime or banged up (as far as we know). They should both look at Game 4 as their opening day. Everything from recent games and the entire season goes out the window. They have a chance to prove their first-line material.

There are other ways for the Bruins to survive, and maybe even win the Cup, without Horton. Brad Marchand could heat up after scoring his first goal of the series, Boston could build off its 2-for-4 power-play performance from Game 3 and maybe the club could get more offensive production from its fourth line despite scarce minutes.

Among the laundry list of options, the one most likely to happen and help the Bruins, however, is the Peverley/Ryder option. Both are going to get their chance to get the job done unless one comes out of the gates Wednesday and claims the spot as his own. With those two inconsistent performers, that’s doubtful to happen.

Nathan Horton’s difficult to replace, as the Florida Panthers found out. Whether it’s a combination of both, or one outplaying the other, Michael Ryder and Rich Peverley have to step into the forefront and prove that there’s depth in those black-and-gold sweaters, not just untapped talent.

From what I read it sounds like Julien may be floating Peverly, Seguin and Ryder between the first and third lines depending on match ups and team needs. This may not be a bad move. I actually think Seguin sees the ice nicely if he isn’t in a panic and he can take and give really nice passes and he definitely has the ability to snipe a good shot off.

I agree with you Rich about that 3rd line. We would have a couple of pretty fast lines to roll out there, which I think would help.

To me, a lot depends on Lucic and Krejci. If Van shifts attention away from them at all–and with Horton going down, they just might feel free to put a little more focus elsewhere–those guys have to take advantage. As huge as Horton has been, we shouldn’t forget how much Krejci has factored into almost all of the Bs playoff wins. I know I will never forget what happened when he went down last year against Philly… night and day.

Anyway, it’s nice to think about how diff guys might step up, and who might become the hero of the day. Like you nifty, I am hoping that win or lose, the Bs just do it with class and sportsmanship, and without anyone else on either team taking the kind of fall Horty has. Every time I think about that poor guy my stomach turns.

But this is a perfect opportunity to get Seguin at least a few shifts with a top-line center. They’re at home and have the last change to make sure they can account for any difficult defensive matchups. Give him a few shifts at least.

Ryder will disappear in against a physical opponent. I think this match up is good for him. I can’t believe they didn’t move Seguin up to play with him in Game 2, as he was the only one doing anything. I like him on line one, and I like Seguin on PP1 and Line 3 with Pev.

I hope we see nothing but the same from Thorty. Even in 8-10 minutes, can’t underestimate the tone he sets!

I hope Ryder can win you over. That would mean the B’s were successful. I have that Julien thing for him kinda like Pierre with AF. I’ve also defended the Kabby move and I understand peoples criticism. If the B’s don’t win I’ll fall on my sword over that one.

I think they went 4 games because to date they haven’t been able to deter ANYTHING! Is there any question that something must change? Two games for a hit that could end a career is stupid. Honestly – four games isn’t much of anything either. In this context it means much more b/c the guy won’t play in the Finals and may never get another chance (that must be devastating to Rome – and I feel for the guy), but 4 games mid-season is still not a deterrent. The NFL is now suspending guys for 25 to 50 % of the season. Now that sends a message, and will end the problem. The NHL will eventually have to go this route.

To me it doesn’t matter what has happened in the past – The NHL has to get serious – they just did, and we’re all better for it.

Yeah, 90 plus here, hotter tomorrow, so it will be still very hot come gametime. Should screw with the ice. It will probably play like it did in TB, which was terrible ice. I guess that is in Boston’s favor. The Fleetcenter (yes, I still call it that) is generally a cold building on the inside, so we shall see. The ice here sucked when the building first opened, but i think they are much higher rated now.

Vancouvers antics please… This has been going on by both teams. The team that avoids this crap tonight will win. Penalties will be called and this game will have different tempo. Vancouver has never had this amount of scrums, facewashing, stickwork, slashing in the previous series… Not saying they don’t do it but don’t forget to look in the mirror.

PS.. Nice reports of Boston fans spitting, throwing food and beer , racial comments on visiting fans in Boston.. I know it’s only a few that may do this but come on show some of that Lucic class?

This is a great chance for Ryder. I think he’s a top six talent and his effort has been there all spring. Like the guys said it’ll take some extra from everyone. They’re going to need strong play from the third line and if the fourth line brings what they brought last game then I like their chances.

Coooooooach was right about casual fans being turned off by Couver’s antics. Some people in S.Ontario and especially old timers are disassociating themselves or have change sides entirely. I love it.

@ MCK. Wisdom in not letting Rome back in it this year.
Also, the refs throwing every body out in couples during the third was well advised. We should expect the same tonite for everything after the whistle blows.

The NHL showed no wisdom. There is NOTHING to stop the Bruins from dressing Hnidy and having him do the same thing to Burrows, Kesler, or a Sedin Queen. I don’t want that, but there is no deterrant. Oh no, the Bruins would have to play with 5 defenseman. They basically play 4 defenseman anyways.

Bernard I think the league opted for the 4 games (or Murphy at least) because they didn’t want to deal with the consequences when Rome returned to the line up in the play offs.

And while I absolutely hate the “Thornton shoudl take a Sedin’s head off” crap because Thornton is a player who plays honest and plays by the code and isn’t going to resort to just taking off a Sedin’s head in a dirty way-I am sure Thornton would have been after Rome for a fight and definitely some chirping.

The league opted to avoid it. What bugs me is all the sympathy the poor Canucks and Rome are getting because the suspension is too harsh.

Well Horton’s dream of playing for the Stanley Cup just ended-even if the Bruins win, Horton won’t be on the ice, and may not even be healthy enough to be there for the celebration (something Rome gets to do if the Canucks win).

MCK I completely agree. They sort of did that a little bit-although honestly I don’t even think the penalties should be with regard to intent-if there is contact with the head or what appears to be a clear attempt to make contact with the head (I think I have seen Boychuk now manage to avoid three attempted head shots in the play offs)-whether the intent is to injure or just make a spectacular play shouldn’t matter.

The action should warrant a suspension or discipline-not whether the player was injured. Although I would be okay if there was additional time added to a suspension for aggravating circumstances-as in skating by with an elbow out to hit the head vs leaping off the ice towards the head with the elbow up-both would be elbow to the head, but the leaping elbow would be more risky and could warrant more time.

I also think the league is going to have to dig deep and start holding big name, big money players accountable when they make the bad hits or violate the rules.

Is there anyone who thinks the league wouldn’t have suspended Thornton or Paille if he had bitten an opposing player? With that same evidence they decided wasn’t conclusive-they would have given a 3rd or 4th liner the suspension, but because Burrows is a first liner they were unwilling to do it.

I think this whole series went south when the league took a pass on punishing Burrows for the bite. I still think it was the “no evidence” call that burned. I think everyone involved would have been fine if the league had opted for a fine. But the league said “no evidence” and the Canucks team decided to use it for trash talk rather than just be relieved they dodged a bullet.

I think the league has let this series get away from them and I expect a whistle happy game tonight with a lot of special teams and I also predict the majority of the calls will go against the Bruins because that just seems to be how it goes.

The punishment should be for intent to injure not the injury caused. Period. And the penalties should be stiff as hell. Otherwise, there will be countless other hits like this. These hits have already stripped the game of several players, how will the NHL feel when someone lights up one of the Sedin Queens, Ovechkin, Briere, Stamkos…The NHL has blood on its hands.

Roll the guys out regardless, CJ. Forget about linemates and stuff. Focus on focus and energy. They cannot match us when we take the energy level up the roof. Fans in attendance will also have a great role to play. Seguin will shine tonite.

P.S. 4 games for Rome for the incident at hand does not fit in with what the NHL has used us to of late. I do not think the Bruins fan base have any ground to support their complaints. 1 or 2 at the most would have been more like it. Average player policy I guess.

P.P.S. I do not think the NHL is taking the right route by assessing the extent of the damage resulting from a bad hit. Appraise the action, not its result, because the comedy act will soon balloon. Whiners whining at whiners are whiners themselves aren’t they?

Killing seals is nothing worst than feeding off burgers or chicken stew. They use the animal entirely and respectfully. It is also part of humanity taming its environment to survive.
You are walking on INDIAN land mg, don’t you forget it. You really should sleep on it for a bit before you start judging lifestyles ect… Enjoy your freedom fries today. How about killing a few Irakis as an appetizer hey??

Also, if you think the Horton-for-Rome trade is anywhere near fair, you need your head examined. We lost a clutch player, they lost a mediocre bottom-pair guy. I don’t think it would matter much in this series if Rome were in.

JPT, you crank out bone-headed conspiracy theories like it’s your job. Did your daddy never teach you how to golf in the offseason? Come on man… just leave us alone. Or at least send us a picture of yourself and a little biopic so that we can get to know the man behind the woman’s name.

You know-I think with what has happened-I really think Ryder may come through and be clutch. He played well last night and I fully expect him to realize he has to elevate his game if he wants the cup.

The Canucks (or at least the fans but I get a sense of entitlement from team interviews as well) are already planning the parade route. Sure the Canucks are hungry, but so are the Bruins-and the Canucks poked the bear and I think the Bruins may have picked up some momentum-if they can take the anger they have now and channel it into a strong hockey game with that angry edge but disciplined play-they will be tough even without Horton. They have to win their home games though and steal one in Vancouver.

I suspect tomorrow’s game is going to be called extremely tight-and a lot of the after the whistle stuff will probably be shut down. So it will be interesting to see what happens.

It is rather obvious to everyone that Mike Murphy is on the Bruins payroll but I am also starting to believe that so is Brian Burke. First of all, he gives the Bruins all these high draft picks for an average NHL player in Kessel and then he influences Mike Murphy to suspend Rome for the rest of the playoffs.

I think we would all agree that if a Bruin had laid a hit like that on a Canuck, there would have been no suspension. Looking forward to tomorrows game.

It has to be Ryder up there I think. I doubt it will be one guy. If Peverley or Seguin has it working, they probably move up. The beauty of that third line of Peverley-Kelly-Seguin is there are 3 centers, so when these buffoon linesman toss one guy, we put a center in, toss another, here comes another center

I would start with Ryder there and see early whether we are going to get the Ryder who sucks or the Ryder who is very good. There is no grey area with that guy.

I have the feeling it is going to be Ryder Julien throws on that line. Mostly because Ryder and Krejci do have a history and Ryder can score and has a nice wrist shot-eve if he becomes invisible at times.

I think though who is really going to have to step it up will be Peverly, Kelly and Seguin. Perhaps having a true 4th line that is a hard playing energy line will help with the match ups so Peverly, kelly and Seguin can create some kind of magic. I think the Canucks are going to work even harder to shut down that Krejci line-so the third line is really going to have to fill the gap.

Marchand was awesome in last night’s game-and if that Marchand shows up for the rest of the games-then the Bergeron line might light up the lamp too.

Ryder’s been playing great. I like him in that spot. A third line of defensive-minded Kelly with two speedy wings, Pevs & Segzy will be dangerous but still responsible enough to compensate for any Seguin mistakes. Not that Ryder hasn’t also played strong D, too. Michael – GO TO THE NET!!

Is there no thought whatsoever to putting the kid on the first line? At least for matchups where defense isn’t a huge issue? If we get an icing or if their top line is gased or whatever surely the kid is the most natural goalscorer we have left?